Marcelo Briones Fernan was born in Cebu City on October 24, 1927.
He was married to Eloisa Nolasco with whom he had nine children.

As a student, Fernan gained distinction as an outstanding youth leader
and scholar. He served as
President of the Student Council Association of the Philippines, and was
elected Member of the International Honor Societies of Phi Kappa and Pi
Gamma Mu.He graduated among the top ten of his class from the College of Law
of the University of the Philippines in 1952.
The following year, he obtained his Master of Law from the Harvard
University in the United States.

He likewise led an active civic and social life as President of the Cebu
Jaycees Role Club of Cebu West, Cebu Country Club, chairman and
President of the Cebu Newspaper Workers Foundation, Inc.

He was an Associate and later Professorial Lecturer at the University of
the Philippines in Cebu, Dean of the College of Law of the University of
San Jose – Recoletos now Dean Emeritus, Chairman of the Board of
Trustees of the University of San Carlos, Secretary General of the
Academy of American and International Law Alumni Association and
Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Fellow of the International Academy
of Trial Lawyer Associations for Asia and the Pacific (LAWASIA) Human
Rights Standing Committee, Chairman of the LAWASIA Judicial Section,
President of the Fulbright Scholars Association, President of the
Philippine Society of International Law, Chairman of the Philippine
National Committee of the Asean Law Association and member of the
Governing Council, President of the ASEAN Law Association, President of
the Fellows on Asia Foundation and Trustee of the Southwestern Legal
Foundation in Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.

He received awards in civic, legal and educational fields among which
are Most Outstanding Law Practitioner in Cebu City;
Most Outstanding UP Alumnus in Civic Affair in Cebu City;
Most Outstanding JCI Senator in the Philippines in the Field of
Education; The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) Awardee, Most Outstanding
Alumnus of Abellana National School, U.P. Professional Achievement
Awardee in the Field of Law, U.P. Cebu Achievement Awardee as Legal
Teacher and Practitioner, Most Distinguished Alumnus from the College of
Law, University of the Philippines, 1999 Most Distinguished Alumnus from
the University of the Philippines Alumni Association, First Recipient of
the Southwest Legal Foundation’s Robert G. Storey International Award
for Leadership and First Recipient at the “ Public Award “ of the
President Sergio Omeña Memorial Foundation.

He was conferred the titles General Brother of the Agustinian Recollect
Order and Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of
Jerusalem.

He was the Most Outstanding
Cebuano awardee. Next to
the late President Sergio Osmeña, he was the second Cebuano in history
to be given such highly exclusive and revered recognition.

He received Honorary Doctorate Degrees from the University of San Carlos
Cebu City, University of San Jose Recoletos, Cebu City; Centro Escolar
University, Member of Angeles University Foundation, Angeles City; De La
Salle University, Manila and University of the Philippines-Visayas.

He entered the government service as member of the Cebu City Planning
Board.
Later, he became a member of the Cebu Provincial Board, delegate to
the Constitutional Convention and Assemblyman (Assistant Minority
Leader) in the Batasang Pambansa.

He was appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and served as
Chairman of the Supreme Court Committee on the Revision of the Rules of
Court and Chairman of the House Electoral Tribunal.

He served as the nineteenth Chief Justice of the Republic and was
Chairman of the Judicial and Bar Council and the Judiciary Planning and
Implementation Office.
During his term as Chief Justice, several bold judicial reforms were
instituted, among them the judicial orientation and career enrichment
program, updating of the Code of Judicial Conduct and the continuous
trial program.

In 1995, Fernan was elected as Senator of the Tenth Congress.
He became the Assistant Majority Leader and Chairman of the
following Senate Committees Justice and Human rights, Labor, Employment
and Human Resources Development and Ethics and Privileges.

As Senator, he authored highly significant laws, among these are :
Republic Act 8246 or the Court of Appeals Regionalization Act, RA
8493 or the Speedy Trial Act of 1998, RA 8557 of the Philippine Judicial
Academy, RA 8525 or the Adopt-a-School Act of 1997 and RA 8558 or the
Underground Mine Workers Act.

He also sponsored RA 8247 or the Alien Social Integration Act of 1995.
RA 8282 or the Social Security Act of 1997, and RA 8369 or the
Family courts Acts of 1997.

At the opening of the Eleventh Congress, Fernan was nominated and
elected as President of the Senate and concurrently, Chairman of the
Commission on Appointments.
During his term as Senate President, the Senate passed the Clean Air
Act, the Visiting Force Agreement and the General Appropriations Act of
1999.

Fernan resigned from Senate Presidency on June 28, 1999 due to his
failing health. Senator
Fernan passed away on July 11, 1999 and was laid to rest at the Cebu
Memorial Park, Cebu City.
His death was deeply mourned all over the country.

Fernan holds the record as the only Filipino to head both the Judicial
and Legislature, as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and as Senate
President, respectively.